“Crimes against humanity do not become OK because a Black man is presiding over these crimes.”

You Will Not Stifle Debate

“We must not be discouraged because of our numbers,” said Nellie Bailey, of the Harlem Antiwar Coalition, standing on the Sixth Avenue sidewalk a block away from the New York Hilton Hotel, where President Obama was inside, wowing the crowd. Bailey and an assortment of perhaps 50 activists shared the corner with tourists and cops.

“There is an effort to silence us within our own respective movements,” said the veteran community organizer.

“But Blacks and progressives are beginning to openly question Obama’s policies. We will no longer tolerate a message from within our community, that the policies of Barack Obama cannot be criticized.”

Despite the fraying of support for Obama on the Left, the July 16 event appeared to be the first public demonstration against the president, albeit a small affair. Turning toward the Hilton, Bailey shouted: “You will not stifle debate, discussion and analysis within our community. We are going to expose this imperialist for who he is.”

Carl Dix, of the Revolutionary Communist Party, took his turn at the mic. “They may put a Black man in the White House, but they’re not going to stop their cops gunning Black men down in the street,” said Dix. “Crimes against humanity do not become OK because a Black man is presiding over these crimes.”

Diop Olugbala, of the Uhuru Movement, possessed the most impressive anti-Obama credentials. On August 1 of last year, when most Leftists were busy acting like Obama groupies, Olugbala and a few others at an Obama rally in St. Petersburg, Florida, unfurled a banner that demanded “What about the black community, Obama?” Olugbala and the Uhuru crew verbally confronted the candidate, and clearly rattled him.

“Barack Obama has told us that racial oppression is no longer a significant factor in life,” said Olugbala, the last speaker at the demo on Sixth Avenue. “Obama is the new face, to seduce the world into compliance with U.S. imperialism.”

BAR executive editor Glen Ford can be contacted at Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com

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